Susan Abram

Staff Writer

Recent articles

Trials

Federal prosecutors continued Thursday to hammer away at Lee Baca by presenting witnesses who testified that when the former sheriff was told about an FBI investigation into inmate abuse at Men’s Central Jail, he was surprised but did little to stop his department’s top brass from trying to thwart it. The testimony came from current and former...

Trials

Former L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca was “the heartbeat of conspiracy” when it came to hiding abuses within Men’s Central Jail, and he did nothing to hold deputies who beat inmates accountable, prosecutors said in federal court Wednesday.The remarks were part of opening statements during the first day of Baca’s jail corruption...

Local governments

After a nearly three-hour public hearing Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed unanimously to place a measure on the March ballot that asks voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund supportive services for the homeless.Their decision was made after hearing almost all of the 125 people who signed up to address the board during a standing room only hearing in downtown L.A.’s Hall of Administration. Speakers came from as far as Lancaster and...

Legal proceedings

Jury selection in the jail corruption trial of former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca began on Monday and is expected to continue Tuesday.Jurors are being selected among a pool of 150 people, who are undergoing questioning at the new federal courthouse on 1st Street in downtown LA’s Civic Center.A federal grand jury indicted Baca in August...

Local governments

Two newly elected Los Angeles County supervisors brought historic changes to local politics Monday when they became part of a supermajority of women to serve on the largest local governmental body in the nation.Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger were formally sworn in during two ceremonies at L.A.’s...

Trials

A federal court judge ruled Friday to split former Sheriff Lee Baca’s upcoming trial into two parts, so that testimony from a mental health expert could be heard by one jury, but not another.U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson agreed with federal prosecutors that testimony from a defense expert who is expected to say Baca was in the early stages of...

Flu

California’s first flu-related death of this season occurred in Los Angeles County, prompting state health officials on Thursday to urge residents to get vaccinated.“As this unfortunate case illustrates, the flu can be deadly and causes thousands of fatalities each year in the United States,” said state public health officer Dr. Karen Smith. “Fortunately, people can get vaccinated to help keep them...

Local governments

A large chunk of the 860 hate crimes reported across the nation in the wake of Presidential-elect Donald Trump’s victory have come from California, Los Angeles County officials said Wednesday, but more may have gone unreported.The Golden State reported almost 100 acts of hate, bigotry, harassment and bullying just days after the Nov. 8 election, said Robin Toma, executive director of the county’s

Law enforcement agencies

Hoping to steer the nation’s largest law enforcement department of its kind into a new era, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell announced Wednesday a shift in leadership, including a new undersheriff — the second-highest position — as well as two assistant sheriffs.Jacques Anthony...